The Bulldog Bark – Promoting Positive Learning, Leadership Skills

by David Stallo,
Trenton Middle School Assistant Principal
Almost two months into the 2014-2015 school year at Trenton Middle School, our students are back in the routine following rules and exceeding expectations once again. We have an outstanding group of teachers, students, and faculty members that hold each other accountable on a daily basis to promote positive learning and leadership skills. This year at Trenton Middle School, students have the opportunity to gain leadership skills through a variety of different avenues. School sponsored clubs, organizations, and athletics help enhance leadership skills and promote students to be responsible in and out of the classroom.
Leadership is defined as, “the action of leading a group of people or organization.” Students develop leadership skills through daily routine and classroom procedures. This behavior may be as simple as raising their hand to answer a question or standing quietly in line, to as complex as leading a classroom discussion in math on implementing algebraic fractions or creating a discussion thread in Science on energy transformations. These are all behaviors that students learn through the act of student leadership.
Sean Covey, author of the book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens,” emphasizes seven very highly effective traits that teens can acquire to become better leaders which are being displayed daily at Trenton Middle School. Trait number one Covey discusses is for students to be proactive in everything they do. Students who are proactive, take more than just initiative to accomplish tasks, they also accept responsibility for their behavior whether it is past, present, or in the future. Trait number two Covey suggest for teens to become leaders is to begin with the end in mind. Teens who instill in their mind that they control their own destiny and understand that hard work and determination enhances their ability to be successful and strive to obtain their goals. This trait is reinforced by our counselor at the middle school by meeting with each grade level to discuss goals and ways to accomplish those goals. Students are taught when they begin to mentally identify and commit themselves to the principles, values, relationships, and purposes that matter most to them, they can begin to make the commitment to being successful. Habit number three that Covey discusses it putting first things first. When students organize and execute their most important priorities first, they can focus on keeping the main concept of accomplishing any goal. Having a win-win attitude is trait number four in which Covey discusses in his book. Thinking positive and encouraging other students that everyone can be successful and can accomplish anything they set their mind to, promotes a positive environment where others can be successful. Students have the opportunity to model this trait through both academics and athletics. Habit number five is modeled around the saying, “seek first to understand, then to be understood.” The concept behind this analogy is that when students listen with the intend to understand others, rather than listen with the intent to reply immediately, true communication and relationships among students and teachers can begin. Habit number six is to synergize. Working together to achieve a common goal. Students have the opportunity to utilize this trait almost daily at Trenton Middle School. Whether it is through literacy groups or cooperative learning, students gain the skills necessary to synergize with one another to achieve a common goal. The final trait Covey discusses in his book is to “sharpen the saw.” This idea focuses on the three basic areas of life, physical health, social health, and mental/emotional health. Taking care of one’s body in all facets of health can help reinforce the habits to be successful in school and life.
Some individuals will argue that students are born leaders and they either have the skills to be a leader or they don’t. Others argue that students are not natural born leaders, they acquire the skills over time and are placed in situations that force them to become leaders. Regardless of which side you stand on, leadership can and will make you successful. One of our goals at Trenton Middle School is to teach our students the core values of leadership skills which will continue to help enhance their content knowledge, and prepare them to be successful citizens in the future.